Is it worth upgrading AMD 64 X2 4200+ to AMD 64 X2 6000+?

AirCooledHeaven

I would buy the 65W AMD 64 X2 5600 and then overclock it. These cpus overclock very easily, my 2500Mhz X2 is overclocked to 2900Mhz with the standard heatsink and fan and rarely goes above 37C. It's perfectly stable. I have an asus motherboard which reduces the clock frequency and cpu voltage when the cpu is idle dropping the temperature by 10C. So I get the best of both worlds.

JasX

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Though it is 800MHz faster it can also produce twice as much heat. Unless you plan on upgrading the cooling system at the same time you're probably better off waiting until you can afford something better.

not always true if they've moved to a smaller die scale for the chip (ie shrunk everything a few nano meters) as this can reduce power needed. there should be info on the internet on heat output for popular processors you can use to compare.

If you're stressing your components with high end games (as I tend to do) you've got to be careful about heat as it will eventually kill your older components. Often doesn't need anything special beyond keeping your heat producing PCI(e) cards as spaced as far away from other stuff as you can get them to get good air flow, having plenty of fans and not putting your PC anywhere silly (eg somewhere hot, with poor air flow, excessive dust etc)

Edit:typical CPU heat links -google will find you more
http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm
http://bakkap.free.fr/Misc/wCalc.html

-TangleFoot-

JasX wrote: »

there should be info on the internet on heat output for popular processors you can use to compare.

That's essentially what TDP ratings are for.